Chapter 27

She was curled up in her bed. Dream land already having washed over her, her breathing light. He had watched her like this every night since the video screen was installed. It relaxed him so he could go to sleep himself. But tonight was different, she would leave tomorrow morning. He would be left alone again.

Sure he would escape the day after next, but even one day without her seemed too long. He didn't want to ever be separated from her again. He had to remind himself that after this, they would have the rest of their lives together, as she'd told him earlier.

"How's a girl supposed to get any sleep with you watching her like that?"

'You're staring again.'

He couldn't help but smirk a little, his eyes trailing up to meet hers. She hadn't moved that much, just tilted her head so she could see him better.

'I'm not allowed to do that?'

"I'm sorry, I thought you were already sleeping."

"Oh I was, but even sleeping, I can feel that stare." There was a note of teasing in her voice, and she looked like she might have been smiling. He couldn't tell with the blanket still pulled up to her nose. That hadn't changed, she still liked snuggling deep into her blankets.

He would have pointed out that he had been watching her like this every night, but recognized the emotion she was desperately trying to hide. It wasn't just his stare she was thinking of. But the stare his body must have given her under Hive's control.

"What has you so deep in thought at this hour, Super spy?"

The old nickname brought him back to the present, and he wasn't sure whether he liked the name or not. He supposed it was better than Tin Man. "The future, what's going to happen after tomorrow." He didn't say exactly what, in case someone was monitoring their video feed, and he was sure someone was. His money was on Coulson.

Her smile dropped as she moved into a sitting position. Her eyes expressing what she could not put into words. She was thinking about it too, had probably been thinking about it longer than him. Who knew how long she had been thinking of this.

"Don't worry about it. I'll come visit you everyday." He smiled, that put his earlier thoughts of whether she would have visited him to rest. Of course, after tomorrow they would be starting a new life together. "I'll be around so much, you'll be sick of me."

"I doubt that." He couldn't stop himself from speaking. His emotions getting the better of him. "I could never get tired of seeing you."

The way her lips tugged into a small smile, made him want touch them. Damn did he wish it was the day after tomorrow already. He wanted to hold her and kiss her into next year. Tell her every thought he had running through his head.

'You woke up a weakness inside me.'

How he wanted to make a place for her to call home with him. How he wanted to wash all her fears away. Keep her safe in his arms and never let her go. Never let anyone tear her apart the way Hive had, just keep her with him.

'For the first time in a while, I wanted something for myself.'

"I guess we'll find out after tomorrow."

He was close to begging Coulson to let him in the same room. This screen was torture when she made faces like that. If he could just hold her, that would be enough. He wouldn't need to kiss her or anything, just let him hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be alright. That would be enough.

'Maybe I'll just take what I want'

Daisy repositioned herself, no longer propping herself up. Telling him their conversation was over. He spared her a small smile, before finally lying down in his own bed.

"Goodnight Ward."

"Goodnight Daisy."

-0-0-0-

She gave him a soft wave before Coulson had her released. He'd let them have one more breakfast together, before he showed up and took her away. The screen in his cell flickered off just moments later. Leaving him alone in the all familiar prison of Vault D. And so began his day without her.

Why couldn't they have the EMP slipped into tonight's dinner? He scowled, reminding himself that it wasn't as long as it felt. That the time in this cage would become a distant memory soon enough. It was only a day. He had waited longer for Daisy, this would be a piece of cake...

Or so he kept telling himself... There wasn't much to do in his cell. He could sit there and mull over what was to come or do a little more training... Another round of training exercises it is.

He needed to keep his strength up anyway. If they were going on the run he needed to be able to not only protect himself but Daisy as well. She would still be weak from everything that had happened. He'd overheard Lincoln whisper something about withdrawals and how her body would feel like it was coming off an intense adrenaline high for some time. Something about Hive's hold on her being like a drug.

Made him think of where he could take her after they ditched the quin jet. He had safe houses and drop boxes all over the world. Most of which S.H.I.E.L.D. Knew nothing about. He could take her almost anywhere, keep them completely off the grid for years. She'd need a place she could relax, somewhere she wouldn't have to worry about anything, just getting better.

It would have to be warm, somewhere that either had mild winters or none at all. Though she wouldn't want extreme heat either. Where would she want to go? He scored his memories, hoping for some clue as to where she'd be most comfortable.

There was one place, that he knew of, but he was still a wanted murderer in the US. He couldn't take her there without endangering them both, and she wouldn't want any of that. Where could he take her that she would be okay? Where could they go to start a new life? Without S.H.I.E.L.D, without Hydra, without anyone breathing down their neck. A place could hide out and pretend they weren't S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most wanted. Because that's what they would be.

'Unfortunately the world outside does exist'

Daisy was practically a daughter to Coulson, and May. They wouldn't let her go without some kind of fight. Especially when she was going away with a well known Hydra spy that had killed and tortured so many of their agents. A man who had shot Coulson's newest love interest. Someone they had tried to kill multiple times.

It would have to be somewhere outside S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction. They wouldn't be able to hack the satellite feeds without Daisy. That would just leave the normal security cameras, nothing they couldn't easily avoid with their training.

Where would she want to go? He frowned at the now black screen of his prison wall. He should have found a way to ask her. Maybe she already had a place picked out? He'd been away from S.H.I.E.L.D long enough. She could have easily amassed her own collection of safe houses and drop boxes.

They would figure it out tomorrow, he decided. Even if tomorrow felt like a very long ways away. It's not like he could decide any of this without her anyway. He didn't know enough about the new Daisy to know what she would want. He only knew what Skye would want, a beach house in Tahiti, so she could send Coulson a postcard.

'It's a magical place.'

A small grin broke across his face at the expression he was sure the Director would have made while they had laughed till their stomachs hurt. May probably would have read it next to him and cracked her own smirk. All things that would never be.

The team had changed too much. Everyone had been pushed too far. They wouldn't come into contact with S.H.I.E.L.D again. Not intentionally anyway. They would have to fall off the radar and disappear. Leave everything she knew behind.

It was more than a little flattering, knowing that she was willing to give up the home she'd always wanted for him. He had no idea how he could ever make it up to her, except to make a home that she would never have to give up. That's what Skye had always wanted, a place to belong and call home. He hoped Daisy wanted something similar.

-0-0-0-0-0-

I sincerely apologize for the insanely long wait. There is really no excuse for my absence. The last few weeks seemed to just fly by without me noticing. Again I'm very sorry. I'll try to get back sooner with another chapter of Supposed to Stay in Vegas, or possibly this one.

I hope you enjoyed, please Favorite, Follow, and/or Review! I'd love to know what you think. You're comments are what keep me going, and I'm sorry I'm not like other authors that respond to every review and pm. I just never know what to say, or how I should respond. But I do read every one of them, sometimes ten times over.

Anyway. Next chapter's the grand escape! Let's see if it actually goes as planned, shall we?

Hopefully I'll update soon?

Till then,

Tootles!